Faith in Christ is Tested to Come Out as Gold

 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭2‬-‭3‬a KJV‬‬

Isaiah gives God’s promise, “When you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on Me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you, for I Am your Savior, YAHWEH, your mighty God, the Holy One of Israel!”  God’s method of deliverance is often not “out of” but “through”.  His Presence as we go through difficulties becomes our deliverance.  That was David’s experience as he sang psalms to God in worship, “Even when Your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for You already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for You are near.”  Although Isaiah spoke this from God to Israel, in the new covenant, God desires our faith in Him to be refined through our trials, tribulations and persecutions.  As Peter put it, “The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.”  May our faith come out as gold.  Amen!

Put On the Lord Jesus Christ

 “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬-‭11‬, ‭14‬. KJV

Paul’s revelation was, “Love makes it impossible to harm another, so love fulfills all that the law requires. To live like this is all the more urgent, for time is running out and you know it is a strategic hour in human history. It is time for us to wake up! For our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires.” God is love and no human can generate this love.  This love has come to mankind through the Cross of Jesus Christ and thereafter by the Holy Spirit, right into the human heart - that is true righteousness - and it only works by faith.  “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.”  God’s love brings us to the perfect wholeness, which is the full salvation ready to be unveiled in the last days.  Let’s put on the Lord Jesus and be fully clothed with Him, being in God’s love - let’s practice this great and awesome love.  Amen!

Delighting in Our Servant-King

 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” 

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah, “Take a good look at My Servant! I love Him dearly, for He is My Chosen One. I have taken hold of Him in My strength, and I have clothed Him with My Spirit. He will cause justice to spring up for the nations. He will be gentle and will not quarrel with others in public. He will not exalt His own Voice. He would never crush a broken heart nor disregard the weak and vulnerable. He will make sure justice comes to those who are wronged.”  Isaiah introduces the Lord Jesus as the Chosen Servant of God, sustained by Yahweh, sent on a divine mission to bring light and freedom to the hearts of His covenant people.  Jesus is God’s Faithful and Chosen Servant Who brings salvation to the nations and restores Israel; Whom God upholds by His strength and on Whom He has placed His Spirit.  God’s delight is in Him.  God said that of Jesus, “This is My Son—the Beloved! My greatest delight is in Him.”  Let’s delight in our Messiah.  Amen!

Our Proper Response to God’s Marvellous Mercies

 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.”  Out of all that God has created in the universe, the most intimate connection He has is with mankind who have chosen to be in Christ.  In the new covenant, the sacrificial system no longer involves dead animals, but living people.  We are not called to accommodate ourselves to the opinions, desires and interests of others because as a living sacrifice we died Christ’s death and are now alive to God.  We are called to be led by the Holy Spirit as we meditate on God’s Word because it reveals His will.  Let’s be obedient to God’s good, acceptable and perfect will.  Amen!

We Keep Our Gaze on the Risen & Victorious Christ

 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV

Isaiah prophesied God’s promise, “Do not yield to fear, for I Am always near. Never turn your gaze from Me, for I Am your faithful God. I will infuse you with My strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with My Victorious Right Hand.’”  The Hebrew for “Don’t be frightened” also means “to gaze”.  These are the same words that Moses said to Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”  In the new covenant, we gaze at Jesus risen and victorious in all His power and glory, ready to help us when we call upon Him because He loves us more than His Life.  Let’s receive His love.  Amen!

The Mystery of Israel’s Partial Blindness

 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul was revealed, “My beloved brothers and sisters, I want to share with you a mystery concerning Israel’s future. For understanding this mystery will keep you from thinking you already know everything. A partial and temporary hardening to the Gospel has come over Israel, which will last until the full number of non-Jews have come into God’s family.”  This is a sacred secret revealed to Paul and therefore to us today as Paul very much wants us to know, something God has hidden from ancient times and can only be revealed by God.  Jesus taught us that these mysteries are meant for us to perceive as part of our Kingdom birthright, “He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” It is this mystery - the partial insensitivity of Israel that Jesus Christ is their Messiah and  salvation.  It is part of God’s eternal plan for the nations. This stubbornness and unwillingness to learn something new from God has kept Israel from recognising their Messiah.  “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”  Let’s keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem.  Amen!

Carrying the Gospel of Peace

 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “And how can the message be proclaimed if messengers have yet to be sent? That’s why the Scriptures say: How welcome is the arrival of those proclaiming the joyful news of peace and of good things to come! But not everyone welcomes the good news, as Isaiah said: Lord, is there anyone who hears and believes our message? Faith, then, is birthed in a heart that responds to God’s anointed utterance of the Anointed One.”  The arrival of anyone carrying good news, it is always at the right time!  The prophet Isaiah and other prophets of old, prophesied,  “What a beautiful sight to behold— the precious feet of the messenger coming over the mountains to announce good news! He comes to refresh us with wonderful news, announcing salvation to Zion and saying, “Your Mighty God reigns!”  The world is getting darker but the one carrying the Gospel brings the light.  The entrance of God’s Word, the Gospel, brings light to the simple whereas the intellectuals, the powerful and the rich will not believe the report of the Lord.  God is light and in Him there’s no darkness at all.  Let’s see God’s great desire of us carrying the Gospel of peace to the hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Let’s obey God.  Amen!

Walking in God’s Favour with Humility - like Jesus

 “Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭39‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Isaiah recorded, “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word YAHWEH has spoken through you is good and right.” For he thought, “At least for me, there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”  Hezekiah, the reformer, went from being a man who was favoured by God and divinely healed to one who thought only of himself.  Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.  When people walk in the favour of God and become familiar with it, they treat it with that measure of entitlement that they deserve it because they’re superior to others!  This is plain and simple pride when the heart is lifted up, just like what happened to Lucifer when he wanted to become like the Most High God.  God said to him, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”  Pride goes before destruction.  Let’s walk in the favour of God with humility just like Jesus did, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a Man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the Cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the  Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Let’s be like Jesus.  Amen!

Christ Our Precious Cornerstone

 “as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: And whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation from Isaiah’s prophecy was, “just as it is written: “Be careful! I am setting in Zion a Stone that will cause people to stumble, a Rock of offense that will make them fall, but believers in Him will not experience shame.”  To stand in faith is to stand on a Rock which is to stand in faith on the Gospel of salvation in Christ, rather than in the salvation of works.  Isaiah had warned the Jews, “The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, But a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.”  Later Isaiah prophesied what Paul told to Jews and non-Jews alike, “Here’s what the Lord God says: “Behold, I set in place in Zion a Foundation Stone, fully tested and proven to be faithful and secure. And written upon this precious Cornerstone is this: ‘Those who trust in Him will not act in haste.’”  Even if a promise delays, we will not be disheartened but will remain steadfast in faith.  Amen!

It Is Finished

 “What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these things is the life of my spirit: So wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭38‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah recorded, “But what can I say? For He has spoken to me and told me that He is the One Who has done this. I can’t sleep a wink because I’m overwhelmed with grief. Lord, it is because of Your kindness that life is given. It is in You that my spirit lives. Now restore my health and give me life again!”  When Hezekiah was told by Isaiah that he would die soon, he wept and asked to be spared and God told Isaiah to turn back and tell Hezekiah that he would live fifteen years more.  So Hezekiah praised God in gratitude and said that God Himself had done it.  These words were the same as when Jesus spoke on the Cross, “It is finished”.  This was a shadow of God’s kindness, mercy and goodness of God shown in this act of gracious love that Christ took the sicknesses of all humanity on the Cross and finished it.  Those who believe, receive it but those who question it, it will pass them by. As Isaiah prophesied, “He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as One from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.”  This truth is still healing people today, two thousand years after this event, by those who simply believe it.  Amen!